Heuchera plant named ‘Circus’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of hybrid  Heuchera  named ‘Circus’, characterized by its foliage with leaves that are peach colored with reddish veining in spring and fall and lime green with a slight silver overlay and red veining in summer, its pinkish purple flowers on red flowering stems, its tolerance to heat and humidity, its vigorous growth habit, and its hardiness in U.S.D.A Zones 3 to 8.

Botanical classification: Heuchera hybrid.

Cultivar designation: ‘Circus’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is co-pending with a U.S. Plant Patent Application filed for a plant derived from the same breeding program that is entitled Heuchera Plant Named ‘Vulcano’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 13/694,477), and Heuchera Plant Named ‘Pretty Perrine’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 13/694,476).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Heuchera of hybrid origin, botanically known as a Heuchera and is hereinafter referred to by its cultivar name ‘Circus’.

The new cultivar was discovered as a whole plant mutation by the Inventor in Hantay, France. The Inventor sowed seeds that were pooled from crosses made between proprietary plants in his breeding program in 2009. The Inventor selected ‘Circus’ in 2011 as a single unique plant amongst the seedlings that resulted from the above crosses. The exact parentage is unknown, however at least one of the hybrid parents has Heuchera×villosa in its heritage due to the observed heat and humidity tolerance observed for the new cultivar.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by the Inventor by division in Hantay, France in 2011. Asexual propagation of the new cultivar by division and tissue culture has shown that the unique features are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘Circus’ as a new and unique cultivar of Heuchera.

-   -   1. ‘Circus’ exhibits uniquely colored foliage with leaves that         are peach colored with reddish veining in spring and fall and         lime green with a slight silver overlay and red veining in         summer.     -   2. ‘Circus’ exhibits pinkish purple flowers on red flowering         stems.     -   3. ‘Circus’ is tolerant to heat and humidity imparted by having         Heuchera×villosa in its parentage.     -   4. ‘Circus’ exhibits a vigorous growth habit.     -   5. ‘Circus’ is hardy in U.S.D.A. Zones 3 to 8.

‘Circus’ is a unique Heuchera with foliage coloration that is unknown to exist in other cultivars of Heuchera known to the Inventor. ‘Circus’ can be compared most closely to ‘Tiramisu’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,429), ‘Vulcano’, ‘Pretty Perrine’ and ‘Electra’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,856) for its similarity in having foliage that is marked with red and in having Heuchera×villosa in its parentage. ‘Tiramisu’ differs from ‘Circus’ in having yellow-green foliage that is mottled with red between the veins and in lacking red flowering stems. ‘Vulcano’ differs from ‘Circus’ in having amber colored foliage with a silver overlay and veins and margins that are light brownish red. ‘Pretty Perrine’ differs from ‘Circus’ in having lime green leaves with red mottling in the center of the leaves and in having white flowers. ‘Electra’ differs from ‘Circus’ in having spring foliage that is bright yellow-gold with red veins, rather than peach colored.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Heuchera. The photographs were taken of a plant two years in age as grown outdoors in a 10-liter container in Hantay, France.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a view of the plant habit, changing foliage coloration, and flowering stems of ‘Circus’.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of a spring leaf of ‘Circus’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the digital photography techniques available, the color values cited in the detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors of the new Heuchera.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of 2-year-old plants of the new cultivar as grown outdoors in April in 10-liter containers in Hantay France. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:     -   -   Blooming period.—May to July in Hantay, France.         -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial.         -   Plant habit.—Compact, clump-forming, mounded foliage.         -   Height and spread.—Average of 31.5 cm in height from soil to             top of leaves, 67 cm from soil to top of inflorescences, and             about 70 cm in width.         -   Hardiness.—At least in U.S.D.A. Zones 3 to 8.         -   Diseases and pests.—Not more susceptible to pests and             diseases than other Heuchera varieties.         -   Root description.—Fibrous roots on woody rootstalks.         -   Branching habit.—Basal rosette, no lateral branches.         -   Propagation.—In vitro propagation is the preferred method,             division is also possible.         -   Growth rate.—Vigorous. -   Stem description:     -   -   Shape.—Round.         -   Stem color.—183A.         -   Stem size.—An average of 3 mm in diameter and 67 cm in             length (including primary peduncle).         -   Stem strength.—Strong.         -   Stem aspect.—Flowering stems grow in an average angle of 65°             to base (0°=horizontal).         -   Stem surface.—Moderately glossy, rounded, densely covered             with short hairs, an average of 1 mm in length and 156D in             color.         -   Stem number.—Average of 30 flowering stems and an average of             2 flowering stems per rosette. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf shape.—Broad ovate.         -   Leaf division.—Simple.         -   Leaf base.—Hastate, slightly overlapping.         -   Leaf apex.—Obtuse.         -   Leaf venation.—Laciniate, upper surface; N144A in center             with around center and other veins 177A in summer and 183B             in spring and fall, lower surface; a blend of 145A and 145B.         -   Leaf margins.—Lobed with an average of 9 lobes per leaf,             lobe margins are crenate.         -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate, basal rosettes.         -   Leaf surface.—Both surfaces dull and moderately covered with             short hairs an average of 0.5 mm in length and 157D in             color.         -   Leaf color.—Young upper surface (spring and fall); 18C with             margins 150B, area near veins 183B, young lower surface             (spring and fall); 151A, area near veins tinged 178A, summer             upper surface; between 145B and 150B with an overlay of             196D, area near the veins between 166A and 176B with older             leaves between 151D and 154B, area near veins 174A, summer             lower surface; N144A, area near the veins 177D.         -   Leaf size.—Average of 10.9 cm in length and 10.2 cm in             width, winter foliage upper and lower surface; 162D,             typically cut back prior to emergence of spring foliage.         -   Leaf quantity.—7 per basal rosette.         -   Petioles.—Average of 23.8 cm in length and 2 mm in diameter,             color; 183A.         -   Stipules.—Small leafy stipules at the base of each leaf,             laciniate (fringed) apex, with an average of 1.3 cm in             length and 3 mm in width and 186B in color. -   Flower description:     -   -   Inflorescence type.—Numerous small bell-shaped flowers             arranged on pyramidal panicles on flower scapes emerging             from the base of the rosette.         -   Inflorescence size.—An average of 23.6 cm in height             (excluding peduncle) and about 8.4 cm in width.         -   Flower fragrance.—None.         -   Flower quantity.—Average of 20 flowers per stem and 150             flowers per inflorescence.         -   Flower lastingness.—Average of one week.         -   Flower buds.—Obovate in shape, an average of 6 mm in length             and 3 mm in diameter, color; 50A, 46A at the tip and 35B at             the base.         -   Flower aspect.—Drooping to outward.         -   Flower type.—Campanulate.         -   Flower size.—About 7 mm in depth (height) and 8 mm in             diameter.         -   Petals.—Average of 5, rotate arrangement and implanted in             the hypanthium at the lower half of the calyx, petals and             filaments are fused, obovate in shape, margin is entire,             apex is acute, upper and lower surface is dull and smooth,             color: upper and lower surface when opening; 65A becoming             65B at the base, upper and lower surface when fully opened;             65B becoming 65C at the base.         -   Calyx.—Campanulate, 7 mm in length and 8 mm in diameter.         -   Sepals.—Campanulate hypanthium, average of 5, fused into             hypanthium, elliptic to oblong in shape, about 7 mm in             length and 2 mm in width, margin is entire, apex is broadly             acute, fused base, color: immature upper surface; 53B, base             53C, immature lower surface; 50A, tip 46A, base 35B, mature             upper surface; 53B, base 53C, mature lower surface; 50A, tip             46A, base 35B.         -   Peduncles.—Primary peduncle (from base to the tip of the             inflorescence); average of 23.1 cm in length and 2 mm in             diameter, moderate strength, held at a 0° angle (straight on             top of flowering stem), color of both surfaces; 183A,             secondary peduncles; average of 2.9 cm in length, 1 mm in             diameter, moderate in strength, held at a 65° (0°=straight             upright) to primary peduncle, color of both surfaces; 183A,             surface is moderately glossy, rounded, densely covered with             short hairs; an average of 1 mm in length and 156D in color.         -   Bracts.—1, at base of pedicels, lanceolate in shape, between             150B and 151D in color, about 4 mm in length and 1 mm in             width, acute, base truncate.         -   Pedicels.—Average of 2 mm in length and 0.5 mm in width,             moderate strength, color 183A, pedicel of primary flower of             each spikelet straight on top of secondary pedicel, pedicels             of secondary and tertiary flowers of each spikelet in an             average angle of 60° (0°=straight on top of secondary             peduncle), surface is moderately glossy, rounded, densely             covered with short hairs; an average of 1 mm in length and             156D in color. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Gynoecium.—2 pistils, pointed in shape, about 4 mm in             length, and 155A in color, styles are about 3.5 mm in length             and 155A in color, ovaries are 150D in color.         -   Androcoecium.—5 stamens, anthers are ovate in shape, about             0.5 mm and 160C to 160D in color, filament 3 mm in length             and 155A in color, pollen is low quantity and 160D in color.         -   Seed/fruit.—No fruit or seeds detected to date. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of hybrid Heuchera plant named ‘Circus’ as herein illustrated and described. 